#EyeDonated has the vision to bring eye care to Tanzania one photo at a time

Posted by Cynthia E Rockwell, Community Contributor

In 2014, Artists for World Peace traveled to Tanzania on their first eye-care mission. They will return this summer with Connecticut eye care professionals and international collaborators.

In 2014, Artists for World Peace traveled to Tanzania on their first eye-care mission. They will return this summer with Connecticut eye care professionals and international collaborators. (Posted by Cynthia E Rockwell, Community Contributor)

Community Contributor Cynthia E Rockwell

MIDDLETOWN - Two internationally acclaimed organizations-Lions Clubs International, and Vision Health International-are collaborating for the first time with, the Middletown-based Artists for World Peace (AFWP), to bring much-needed eye care to residents in Africa.

Begun in 2003 by jewelry artist and Middletown resident Wendy Black Nasta, AFWP will return for the fourth time this summer to treat patients in Tanzania. In previous summers, they helped build a health clinic and provided vision care for many. This summer, with their noteworthy collaborations, they will bring additional resources for vision care, through the creation of EyeDonated.org and the #EyeDonated campaign, which they invite everyone to join.

"Eye care in some areas of Tanzania is nonexistent," said Black-Nasta, who recalls noting on her first trip, in 2008, that many of the village elders squinted. "The majority of the people from Kibosho-Umbwe, Tanzania, and other areas of Sub-Saharan Africa suffer from preventable eye problems, which are most often caused by damaging sun exposure. Many adults and children develop cataracts, which can result in severe vision loss."

Through the #EyeDonated campaign, EyeDonated.org plans to create a beautiful, global image gallery to raise awareness of this issue and change how the people of Kibosho-Umbwe see their future. To start, they are asking people around the world to post beautiful images and tag them with #EyeDonated. They are also raising money to support the eye care initiative.

This summer, EyeDonated.org will be visiting the people of Kibosho-Umbwe and the surrounding area to provide eye care to as many as 1,000 people. They will make corrective eyeglasses and sunglasses, and perform cataract and glaucoma surgeries that will improve or restore sight. They also plan to connect the people of Kibosho-Umbwe to the #EyeDonated Global Gallery. "When they can see again, they will truly see how much people care about them through images and messages from around the world," says Wendy Black-Nasta of EyeDonated.org.

For EyeDonated.org, bringing vision care to Kibosho-Umbwe is just the beginning. And through word of mouth, they already have a generous supporter who will be matching donations up to a total sum of $75,000. Any and all contributions will make an impact, as cataract surgery costs about $60 in Tanzania.

To help EyeDonated.org by creating a post:Simply post an image with #EyeDonated or tag 2 friends with an image and use the copy below:

& , #EyeDonated to help bring eye care to Tanzania. My hope is that one day the people there will be able to see these beautiful images. Help spread the word by donating a photo and tagging 2 friends. You can also donate at www.EyeDonated.org

EyeDonated.org is bringing eye care to Tanzania this summer. As the people there can see again, they can see the world.